An Approach to a One-School-Year Technical/Occupational Program Articulation between the Secondary and Post-Secondary Levels.

Emerson, Nancy H.

An articulation effort between secondary and postsecondary occupational education is described in this report as conducted by the Dallas County Community College District. After an introduction to the articulation project emphasizes the original goal of developing material necessary to award postsecondary credit for mastery at the secondary level, additional benefits of the project are cited. These included providing a base for a core curriculum, facilitating awarding credit for life experience, and assisting in developing and revising courses. Next, steps in the articulation process are described: (1) select programs for articulation using criteria such as high enrollment, local job market needs, availability at secondary schools, and responsiveness of directors to articulation; (2) identify and inform supervisors and participants; (3) complete task analyses; (4) define blocks (i.e., major subject areas), modules, and competencies, and identify core competencies to be required of every student in the program; (5) develop course equivalencies between postsecondary campuses and secondary and postsecondary schools; (6) share blocks, modules, and competencies with secondary teachers; (7) develop objectives to measure competencies; (8) develop articulation implementation procedures; and (9) assemble and print materials. Finally, general suggestions for articulation are provided. Appendices include course equivalencies, articulation procedures, and related materials for a welding program. (KL)